Laimdota's senses cleared, As this the man declared; His face at last appeared, Beneath his helmet bared.- A cry of joy began, Within the moonlight grew; Laimdota saw the man, And straight Koknesis knew! Koknesis took her hand, This greeting to proclaim: "To Gods and spirits grand Give thanks in time I came! Together we must flee, We cannot here delay. Hence you must ride with me, My fate learn on the way." Into the saddle straight Both leaped on horses' backs, Rode out and did not wait, On rutted forest tracks. A distant mountain hut Gave shelter for the night- The folk who firewood cut Helped strangers in their plight. They rested for some days, Then rode a further stage. Laimdota found good ways Disguised to be a page; Koknesis was her knight.- They from a seaport planned By ship to make their flight To reach their Fatherland. Koknesis on the way Told her his story grim.- One night in bed he lay, When Kangars came to him, Said Kaupa at the dawn To Germany would go; Dispatches must be borne For Burtnieks to know. Since Burtnieks, alone, Kept watch on All Souls' Eve, Koknesis, to him known, The message should receive.- No harm Koknesis saw To Turaida to go, Where waited on the shore Young men that he would know. With Kaupa soon to sail Upon the German trip, With pleasure they would hail Koknesis on the ship.- Koknesis gave assent When Kangars told his plight: He had no document, Until the morning light. Aboard, they broke their fast, And Kangars gave them wine, A gift from Dietrich passed.- Since none would thirst confine, But drank deep at a stroke, They all were soon asleep, And when Koknesis woke, The ship rocked on the deep! Just landless sea and sky He saw now all around. His heavy head asked why, And shame within him found. His thirst had so prevailed, With appetite so hot, That with them he had sailed, If this he willed or not. The others swift condoled, That not all bad would be, And with the thought consoled, Soon Germany to see. To Germany now sent, With monks to live and learn, Koknesis seemed content, New wisdom thus to earn. But visits soon he paid And time spent with an earl, There to the knights displayed His strength in jousting's whirl. All there his skill admired, His agile arm's strong weight.- But news was not acquired About Laimdota's fate. But later, there he heard, That in a cloister's court, A woman was interred, Thence from the Baltic brought. The earl desired the maid, To seize her deemed it right The cloister's grounds to raid, And steal her in the night.- Her fate Koknesis knew, Thus earnest vow he gave, The unknown maiden true, From such a fate to save. When at the cloister gate, Laimdota's face he saw, He felt an endless hate, And caution was no more! And thus the slaughter grew, No mercy would he show; The earl's son, humbled, too For misdeeds pain must know. Scene 3: In the Realm of the North Wind The boatmen's song summons the North Wind's Daughter